The Dodge Charger got its start in 1966 and was a two-door, fastback coupe that offered room for four. Generations came and went quickly in those days, and for 1968, the second generation Charger debuted. The third generation came along in 1971 and lasted till the 1974 model year. Sadly for 1975, the Charger morphed from an American muscle car to your granddad’s “personal luxury car.” The fourth generation Charger lasted through 1978 and was eventually discontinued.
The Charger name was resurrected again for the 1981 model year, as a Fox-body Ford Mustang look-alike. However, this subcompact hatchback coupe hardly measured up to the Ford. Its FWD configuration and mostly forgettable powertrains didn’t resonate with buyers. There was a turbocharged, 2.2-liter four-cylinder available in a Shelby Edition, which many would argue isn’t worthy of Carroll’s last name. Chrysler killed the car after the 1987 model year.
Fast-forward two decades, and Chrysler’s partnership with Daimler has brought forth a four-door sedan with a longitudinal powertrain configuration and room enough for a V-8. The sixth-generation Charger debuted for the 2006 model year and broke the two-door coupe mold set forth by previous Chargers. Nevertheless, the sixth generation is by far the most successful in terms of sales and longevity.
Chrysler’s partnership with Daimler afforded the automaker access to parts and engineering from Mercedes, and after raiding the parts bens, the Charger sprang forth. The front control arms were borrowed from the W220 S-Class sedan while the five-link rear suspension, firewall, and floor plan came from the W211 E-Class. Chrysler called it the LX platform.
Of course, Chrysler, the parent company of Dodge, badge-engineered itself the Chrysler 300 sedan, which shared nearly every part with the Charger, along with the LX underpinnings. Nevertheless, we’re here about the Charger, so let’s dive into the details.
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